Method for selecting advertisements and channel distribution service preferences for delivery to a set top box

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server comprising a memory to store executable instructions and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising presenting a graphical user interface enabling selectable advertisements or a selectable channel distribution service for delivery to a set top box, presenting filters for targeted delivery of advertisements to subscriber equipment based on information descriptive of the subscriber, selecting advertisements from an advertising server based on detected selections of advertisements or a detected channel distribution service preference, transmitting a globally unique identifier of the set top box to a billing server, initiating storage of the selectable advertisements at a remote advertisement delivery server, and presenting the selectable advertisements to the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/677,171, filed Apr. 2, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/016,516, filed Sep. 3, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No.9,021,521, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/828,232, filed Jun. 30, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,555,314, which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems andmore specifically to a system and method of ad delivery.

BACKGROUND

Interactive TV networks provide a multitude of services includingbroadcast programming and video-on-demand. These networks reach out tousers in various environments including single family residences,multi-dwelling apartments and commercial facilities. The types ofservice and the ability to provide those services are often dependent onthe particular environment of the potential users. Quite often, thesubscribers to these networks have limited choices in selecting theindividual ads and channels selections they can receive. Instead, adsare delivered without any targeting and any selection of channels isbased on packages of a preset and defined set of channels that aredistributed to the subscriber.

The Internet enables the individual selection and distribution of videocontent through video sharing websites such as YouTube® and streamingservices such as Hulu®, but video distribution networks do not seem toprovide similar flexibility in terms of channel distribution selectionor ad selection by a subscriber. Ads are generally fed as part of aoverall video feed or inserted as part of local programming by a localprogramming service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment a of communication system thatprovides program retrieval services;

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting withthe communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system flowdiagram utilized in the communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts yet another illustrative embodiment of a communicationsystem flow diagram in the communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the communications systems of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a server comprisinga memory to store executable instructions and a controller coupled tothe memory. The controller, responsive to executing the instructions,performs operations comprising presenting a graphical user interfaceenabling selectable advertisements and channel distribution servicepreferences for delivery to a set top box, presenting filters fortargeted delivery of advertisements based on information descriptive ofa subscriber, selecting advertisements from an advertising server basedon detected selections of advertisements or detected service preferencesfrom the graphical user interface, transmitting a globally uniqueidentifier of the set top box to a billing server, initiating storage ofthe selectable advertisements at a remote advertisement delivery server,and presenting the selectable advertisements.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a servercomprising a memory to store executable instructions and a controllercoupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions,the controller performs operations comprising logging selections,received from subscriber equipment at an internet protocol televisionnetwork, of advertisement preferences from an advertising server or ofchannel service preferences from a channel service server; storingbilling information regarding the subscriber; forwarding informationregarding the selections by the subscriber equipment to a subscribermanagement system of the internet protocol television network; andreceiving a globally unique identifier for a set top box.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a methodcomprising receiving, at a server comprising a processor, a selection bysubscriber equipment of advertising content from an advertising serveror video channel content from a channel service server, wherein theselection is enabled using a graphical user interface presented via aset top box having a globally unique identifier; storing, by the server,the selection on a delivery server using the globally unique identifierof the set top box; and inserting, by the server, the selectedadvertising content into a video stream for presentation by thesubscriber equipment, the video stream comprising broadcasted content,wherein the selected advertising content is incorporated into the videostream in response to a signal in the broadcasted content that anadvertisement is to be inserted.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast mediasystem. The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO)110 with at least one super headend office server (SHS) 111 whichreceives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communicationsystems. In the present context, media content can represent audiocontent, moving image content such as videos, still image content, orcombinations thereof. The SHS server 111 can forward packets associatedwith the media content to video head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a networkof video head-end offices (VHO) 112 according to a common multicastcommunication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast programs via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a common residential or commercial gateway). Thebuilding 102 can be various types including multi-dwelling units whichhouse a plurality of different subscribers. The access network 118 canrepresent a group of digital subscriber line access multiplexers(DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface thatprovide broadband services over optical links or copper twisted pairs119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can use common communicationtechnology to distribute broadcast signals to media processors 106 suchas Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast channels tomedia devices 108 such as computers or television sets managed in someinstances by a media controller 107 (such as an infrared or RF remotecontrol).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered interface technologies (such as coaxial or phone linewiring) or can operate over a common wireless access protocol. Withthese interfaces, unicast communications can be invoked between themedia processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media system forservices such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130 a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or wirelesscommunication devices 116 by way of a wireless access base station 117operating according to common wireless access protocols such as WirelessFidelity (WiFi™), or cellular communication technologies (such as GSM®,CDMA, UMTS™, WiMAX™, Software Defined Radio or SDR, and so on).

Another distinct portion of the computing devices 130 can function as aserver (herein referred to as server 130). The server 130 can use commoncomputing and communication technology to perform the function ofrelaying and/or receiving media content to ISP network 132 or to othernetworks. One or more of the computing devices 130 can also serve hereinas an application server, a channel service catalog service (server), anad storage server, an ad delivery server, an IPTV billing system serveramong other server applications.

It will be appreciated by an artisan of ordinary skill in the art that asatellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115supplying media content can be intercepted by a common satellite dishreceiver 131 coupled to the building 102. Modulated signals interceptedby the satellite dish receiver 131 can be submitted to the mediaprocessors 106 for generating broadcast channels which can be presentedat the media devices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped witha broadband port to the ISP network 132 to enable infrastructureservices such as VoD and EPG described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital broadcast distributionsystem such as cable TV system 133 can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system described above. In this embodiment the cable TV system 133can provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal 202 which canoperate from the computing devices 130 described earlier ofcommunication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The portal 202 can beused for managing services of communication system 100. The portal 202can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a commonInternet browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer™ using anInternet-capable communication device such as those described forFIG. 1. The portal 202 can be configured, for example, to access a mediaprocessor 106 and services managed thereby such as a Digital VideoRecorder (DVR), a VoD catalog, an EPG, a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored in the mediaprocessor, provisioning IMS services, provisioning Internet services,provisioning cellular phone services, provisioning services such assecurity services or advertising services and so on. For example, a usercan utilize the portal to configure the cognitive radio processor forreceiving video security footage as it is captured by security camerasin the building. In another embodiment, the captured video can beforwarded to other communication devices and/or entities, such as amobile telephone of the user or the police. In yet another embodiment,the services can enable the insertion of targeted advertising as set upby the subscriber or other entity.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 300.Communication device 300 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the communication devices of FIG. 1. Thecommunication device 300 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 302 (herein transceiver 302), a user interface (UI) 304, apower supply 314, a location receiver 316, and a controller 306 formanaging operations thereof. The transceiver 302 can support short-rangeor long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, WiFi™,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT™), or cellularcommunication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologiescan include, for example, CDMA-1.times., UMTS™/HSDPA, GSM®/GPRS,TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX™, SDR, and next generation cellular wirelesscommunication technologies as they arise. The transceiver 302 can alsobe adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies(such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such asTCPIP®, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 304 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 308 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, ornavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device300. The keypad 308 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 300 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 308 canrepresent a numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or aQwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 304 can further include adisplay 310 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technologyfor conveying images to an end user of the communication device 300. Inan embodiment where the display 310 is touch-sensitive, a portion or allof the keypad 308 can be presented by way of the display.

The UI 304 can also include an audio system 312 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 312 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 312 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 304 can further include an image sensor 313 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 314 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 300 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 316 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver for identifying a location of the communication device300 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites,thereby facilitating common location services such as navigation.

The communication device 300 can use the transceiver 302 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi or Bluetooth access point bycommon power sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or timeof flight (TOF). The controller 306 can utilize computing technologiessuch as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or avideo processor with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM,SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

The communication device 300 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 300 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication system 100 of FIG. 1 such as a gamingconsole and a media player.

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict illustrative embodiments of a system or flow 400and another system or flow 500 for enabling a subscriber to select andreceive subscriber selectable channels and optionally advertising thatis also subscriber selectable. In this regard, a subscriber can selectpreferences for channels or ads or even actual individual channels or adcontent that can be streamed to the user. The ads can be streamed to theuser in a targeted fashion in a digital television system such as anIPTV system. The systems 400 or 500 can provide la carte IPTVAdvertising that enable system subscribers to choose advertisements thatfit their interests from a Set top Box (STB) as well as la carte IPTVchannel selection. The viewer or subscriber can select specificadvertising content via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) which will inturn store their choices on an Ad Delivery Server. The Ad DeliveryServer can then present the subscriber's preferred advertising contentduring a next available ad break as further detailed below. In a similarfashion, a subscriber can use a GUI to select channels for subsequentchannel distribution to an STB.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the system or flow 400 in one embodiment canenable a subscriber to select individual channels from a channel servicecatalog (server) and optionally ad content from a catalog server using aSTB at 402. An IPTV billing server can optionally log the subscriberchannel service selection (and ad content selection) at 404. The systemcan use broadcaster queue tone information to determine a location ortime (or time slot) for delivery of the ad to a particular subscriber orSTB. In one particular embodiment, an Ad Campaign Manager can deliverthe subscriber selected ad content (or content in accordance with aselected subscriber preference) to the STB via a unicast transmission.At 406, the system can store selected individual channels or sets ofchannels (and optionally ad content) or preferences for such channelsand ads as well as billing information on an IPTV billing system and anIPTV subscriber management system. Such storage of information caninclude an STB's Global Unique Identifier (GUID). At 408, the IPTVbilling system can log subscriber choices and forward information to anIPTV subscriber (delivery) system. The IPTV subscriber system can thendeliver the selected content to the STB for presentation at 410.

Such a system can resolve several issues that allegedly disturbadvertisers and subscribers. Advertisers would obviously want todiscourage channel flipping away from the specific broadcasted contentand subscribers are more likely to stay on a particular channel if theyhad the ability to insert advertisement into the Setup Top Box thatpique the specific subscriber's interests. For example as a 40 year oldmale consumer would not necessarily want to receive product informationor services that are only designed for females or receive productinformation for specific age groups when it is not applicable to them.In this regard, advertising that is not related to the viewer orsubscriber's interest may not be as effective as subscriber selectedadvertising. The consumer will be able to select content from a GUI thatis specific to content that personally interests them. For example,sports, sporting events, local events, medical, personal care,environment, travel, automobiles, racing, gaming, fashion or any otherparticular interest. Other techniques or inputs can be used in additionto the subscriber selectable preference to further refine the particularads that can be delivered to the subscriber. Other inputs can include,but are not limited to demographics, geographic location, purchasehistories and the like.

Similarly, with respect to channel selections, a subscriber can selectchannels that interest them and thereby discourage channel flipping awayfrom the specific broadcasted content. Subscribers are more likely tostay on a particular channel if they had the ability to select andreceive channels that generally piques the specific subscriber'sinterests. These techniques bring e-commerce to a next level by allowingconsumers to be more interactive when selecting video service andpurchasing products and services through such a system.

In yet another embodiment, a system or flow 500 can enable a subscriberto request video channel services via an STB at 502 from a channelservice catalog server 506 via an application server 504. As discussedin the example above an IPTV billing server at 508 can optionally logthe subscriber channel selection and forward the subscriber selectioninformation to an IPTV Subscriber system 510. The IPTV subscriber systemsends the requested video channels or channel service (in accordancewith a selected subscriber preference or selection) to the STB at 512.

From an STB, a subscriber can be presented with a screen or GUI thatallows them to choose specific channel choices and advertising contentfrom respective catalogs that can reside at remote servers. Once thesubscriber has selected the advertisement content (whether channels orads or both) that piques his or her interests, this information willthen be stored on respective delivery servers using for example theSTB's GUID (Globally Unique Identifier). Note that the ad content can beon one server and the video channel content can be on another.Optionally, both the ad content and video channel content can be on thesame server. In any event, when the broadcasted content calls for anadvertisement to be inserted, the specific advertisement content thatthe subscriber specified can be spliced into the viewed video stream. Ifthe subscriber does not select any content, then default ad insertionpolicies can be applied. The other service providers simply broadcastadvertising content during specific time slots to all viewers.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative method 600 that operates in portions ofthe communication systems of FIG. 1. Method 600 can begin with step 602in which the method at 602 presents a graphical user interface (GUI)enabling subscriber selectable advertisements and channel distributionservice for delivery to a set top box (STB). At 604, the method 600 canpresent filters for targeted ad delivery based on one or more ofdemographics, geographic location, purchased products, or purchasedservices. At 606, the system can select ads from an ad catalog server(based on subscriber selected preferences or subscriber selections) andtransmit the STB's Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) to a billingserver. At 608, such selection can initiate storage of the subscriberselectable advertisements at a remote ad delivery server, where thestorage of the subscriber selectable advertisement can be done using aSTB's GUID. Note that the selection can also optionally or alternativelyinitiate storage of selectable ads or other content at the STB in otherembodiments. At 610, the method can present the subscriber selectableadvertisement, optionally using a unicast stream server. In oneembodiment, the method at 612 can receive a unicast transmission of asubscriber selectable advertisement selected by an ad campaign managerand play the subscriber selectable advertisement selected by the adcampaign manager when a queue tone is delivered in a broadcast stream.Transmission of the ad can involve splicing the subscriber selectable adat 614 into a digital video stream before the presentation (610). In yetanother option, the method at 616 can collect EPG information or channelsubscription information from an IPTV network to provide furtherautomated targeted ad delivery. It should be understood that the orderor inclusion of the steps should not be implied from the specific orderdescribed and illustrated herein.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, such a system andmethod can entail in a particular embodiment an STB or server which canultimately insert ads in a similar fashion as discussed above where theIPTV system is further coupled to a wireless network and remote devicesas illustrated in FIG. 1. Such remote devices can also be treated as anSTB in the context of the embodiments herein.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding ofthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 700 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 700 may include a processor 702 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 704 and a static memory 706, which communicate with each othervia a bus 708. The computer system 700 may further include a videodisplay unit 710 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system700 may include an input device 712 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 714 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 716, a signal generationdevice 718 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 720.

The disk drive unit 716 may include a machine-readable medium 722 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 724)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 724may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 704, the static memory 706, and/or within the processor 702during execution thereof by the computer system 700. The main memory 704and the processor 702 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 724, or that which receives and executes instructions 724from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 726 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 726 using the instructions 724. Theinstructions 724 may further be transmitted or received over a network726 via the network interface device 720.

While the machine-readable medium 722 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape;and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives is considered a distributionmedium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R..sctn.1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A media processor comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: transmitting a first selection obtained byequipment of a viewer to a billing server for storage at the billingserver in accordance with a globally unique identifier of the mediaprocessor, wherein the first selection is associated with programcontent, wherein the billing server forwards the first selection to acontent delivery server; receiving the program content from the contentdelivery server, responsive to the first selection being forwarded fromthe billing server to the content delivery server, wherein the programcontent is presented at the equipment of the viewer comprising apresentation device coupled to the media processor, the program contentincluding queue tone information indicating a location at whichviewer-selected advertising content is to be inserted into the programcontent for delivery to the equipment of the viewer; receiving a unicasttransmission from an ad campaign manager, wherein the unicasttransmission is addressed to the media processor and comprisesviewer-selected advertisement responsive to a second selection obtainedby the equipment of the viewer and forwarded to the ad campaign manager;and inserting, during transmission, the viewer-selected advertisementinto the program content at a location in the program content accordingto the queue tone information to obtain modified program content,wherein the modified program content is presented at the presentationdevice coupled to the media processor.
 2. The media processor of claim1, wherein the billing server forwards the second selection to anadvertising content server, wherein the content delivery server and theadvertising content server are separate from each other.
 3. The mediaprocessor of claim 1, wherein the program content comprises a videostream.
 4. The media processor of claim 1, wherein the program contentis received from the content delivery server via a wirelesscommunication network.
 5. The media processor of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise inserting the viewer-selected advertisingcontent in accordance with a default advertising insertion policy. 6.The media processor of claim 1, wherein the first selection and thesecond selection respectively comprise a selection of a program contentchannel and a selection of the viewer-selected advertisement.
 7. Themedia processor of claim 1, wherein the first and second selections arestored respectively at the content delivery server and at an advertisingcontent server using the globally unique identifier.
 8. The mediaprocessor of claim 1, wherein the first selection is received fromequipment of the viewer.
 9. The media processor of claim 8, wherein theequipment of the viewer presents a graphical user interface forobtaining the first and second selections.
 10. A server comprising: aprocessing system including a processor; and a memory that storesexecutable instructions that, when executed by the processing system,facilitate performance of operations, comprising: obtaining selectionsthat are transmitted to a media processor from user equipment comprisinga presentation device and the media processor, wherein the selectionsinclude a first selection associated with program content and a secondselection associated with advertising content to obtain user-selectedadvertising content; providing the selections to a billing server forstorage at the billing server using a globally unique identifier of themedia processor, wherein the program content and the user-selectedadvertising content are stored respectively at a content delivery serverand an advertising content server using the globally unique identifierof the media processor, wherein the content delivery server and theadvertising content server are separate from each other; and providingthe program content via a multicast transmission and the user-selectedadvertising content via a unicast transmission to the media processorfor presentation at the presentation device coupled to the mediaprocessor, the program content including an indicator for insertion ofthe user-selected advertising content during a transmission of theprogram content to the user equipment to obtain modified programcontent, wherein the modified program content is presented at thepresentation device coupled to the media processor.
 11. The server ofclaim 10, wherein the program content comprises a video stream.
 12. Theserver of claim 10, wherein the program content is provided to the mediaprocessor via a wireless communication network.
 13. The server of claim10, wherein the operations further comprise providing the user-selectedadvertising content from the advertising content server to the mediaprocessor via the unicast transmission.
 14. The server of claim 10,wherein the selections are transmitted to the media processor via agraphical user interface presented at the user equipment.
 15. The serverof claim 10, wherein the first selection comprises a program contentchannel.
 16. A method comprising: receiving, by a media processor,selections including a first selection of a program content channel anda second selection of an advertisement from user equipment to obtain auser-selected advertisement; transmitting, by the media processor, theselections to a billing server for storage at the billing server inaccordance with a globally unique identifier of the media processor,wherein the billing server forwards the first selection to a contentdelivery server and the second selection to an advertising contentserver, wherein the content delivery server and the advertising contentserver are separate from each other; receiving, by the media processor,program content of the program content channel over a wirelesscommunication network from the content delivery server for presentationat a presentation device coupled to the media processor, the programcontent including an indicator for insertion of the user-selectedadvertisement into the program content; receiving, by the mediaprocessor, a unicast transmission from the advertising content server,wherein the unicast transmission is addressed to the media processor andcomprises the user-selected advertisement; and inserting, by the mediaprocessor, the user-selected advertisement into the program content inaccordance with the indicator, during transmission of the programcontent to obtain modified program content, wherein the modified programcontent is presented at the presentation device coupled to the mediaprocessor.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting theuser-selected advertisement into the program content in accordance witha default advertising insertion policy when no selection is receivedfrom the user equipment.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprisingstoring the selections respectively at the content delivery server andat the advertising content server using the globally unique identifier.19. The method of claim 16, wherein a user accesses the media processorusing a portal provided by a management server communicating with thebilling server.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the program contentcomprises a video stream.